Seatbelt mounted combination cutter and glass break tool

ABSTRACT

A combination seat belt restraint system cutter and glass break tool mounted onto and around the seat belt of an automotive vehicle at a predetermined position for use in cutting the web of the seat belt in the event of a seat belt release latch jam or inoperability resulting in the severing of the seat belt at said position resulting in the tool being freed for use in breaking the glass of a window of the vehicle. The combination tool also being maintained in a fixed position adjacent the safety belt extension/retraction aperture by a strap.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Seatbelts have been a common means of preventing serious injury inautomobile accidents by restraining occupants in their seats since theirfirst introduction in the late 1950s and early 1960s. More recentlyadvances in seatbelt pretensioning systems have created a number ofproblems in releasing the seatbelt once an accident has occurred and thepretensioning system has been deployed.

Seatbelt pretensioners have been installed in vehicles for many yearsand are one of the methods used to enhance the occupant restraint systemperformance. Although the first systems were installed in vehicles inthe late 1970s, pretensioners for seatbelts did not become popularacross all makes and models until the late 1990s. Pretensioners aredesigned to remove any slack in the seatbelt shoulder harness assemblysubstantially simultaneously with the moment of a collision. Thepretensioners will typically be provided on three-point seatbelts forboth front-seat occupants and can be placed on the outboard rear-seats,or all three rear-seat positions. For the pretensioner to be effectivethe seatbelt must be a three-point harness system, not merely a lap beltdesign.

The more aggressive pretensioner systems will pull the occupant backinto their seat simultaneously as it deploys. By maintaining theoccupant securely in his/her seat and within the seatbelt restraintsystem, the occupant will experience a smoother deceleration. Also, thefront and side airbags can deploy more effectively with less chance ofcausing injury to the seated and restrained occupant.

Pretensioners can be located at the buckle or anchor end of a seatbeltshoulder harness assembly and work by lowering the seatbelt buckledownward toward the vehicle floor during the collision. This type ofunit may be completely concealed within the seat structure or may bevisible along the outboard edge of the seat frame. Alternatively,pretensioners can also be commonly found attached directly to theretractor or take-up spool end of the seatbelt system located in thevehicle doorpost or sidewall. This design essentially spins the take-upspool backward during the crash, pulling excess slack out of theseatbelt and shoulder harness assembly. It is also possible for twopretensioners to be provided on each seatbelt, one located at each endof the seatbelt system.

There are mechanically activated pretensioner designs that do not useelectricity to activate, although these are not common. There are alsopretensioners that are fired by an electrical signal during a crash, butwork completely mechanically by releasing a pre-stressed spring. Thelarge majority of seatbelt pretensioners that are in use today areconnected to the airbag wiring circuit. When activated, thepretensioners fire off a small pyrotechnic charge of nitro-cellulosethat burns rapidly in a small, enclosed chamber. This mini-explosioncauses either a plug to move up a tube as it pulls the seatbelt buckledownward, or a sprocket to spin the seatbelt retractor backward. Bothactions cause the seatbelt to retract, removing any slack in theseatbelt restraint system. The newest pretensioner systems combine anelectrical pretensioning mechanism as well as a pyrotechnic charge.These “smart” systems use information from on-board components such asthe vehicle's forward-looking radar, inertia sensors, braking systems orspeed monitors to provide full deployment in the event of a crash or anadjustable, partial pretensioning grip that is released if no collisionevent occurs, e.g., after a sensed hard braking.

There are no visible identifiers for seatbelt pretensioners. It is fairto assume they are in use on at least all front-seat three-pointseatbelt systems. Outboard, rear three-point harness systems may alsohave pretensioners. An accordion-type sleeve, directly below the buckleend of a seatbelt, is a very good indicator that a pretensioner ispresent at the lower end of the buckle. If deployed during a collision,the seatbelt buckle may be at or even below the top of the seat cushionmaking access to the seatbelt release button difficult or not possibleif the release mechanism is drawn downward into or next to the seat suchthat it becomes unreachable by the occupant. The accordion sleeve willmost likely appear compressed if the pretensioner system has fired.

In the normal course of the day, a seatbelt is easily removed bypressing the seatbelt release button beside the latch mechanism torelease the belt so that it can retract normally. If the latch'smechanism has been damaged or destroyed, or the belt is so taut that thelatch mechanism will not function properly, or if the release can't bereached based on the car's condition or the position of the occupant asa result of an accident, the occupant may be may be hanging upside downor laying sideways, then that same seatbelt that initially prevented theoccupant from being horrifically injured or killed might become anextreme liability to the wellbeing of the occupant. If the seatbelt isunable to be released, or fails to release, or the occupant cannot reachthe seatbelt release, the failure of the seatbelt to properly releasekeeps the occupant restrained in the vehicle that may be at risk offire, flooding, or being struck by other motor vehicles.

In the event that the latch for the seatbelt system fails to release orthe release mechanism is unreachable or positioned where it isinaccessible by the occupant the only remedy is to cut through theseatbelt webbing. This will require a seatbelt system escape tool toprovide a means for cutting through the seatbelt. Any good car escapetool will have an easily accessible razor blade that is safely recessedinto its handle and positioned at an angle to easily slice through aseatbelt.

However, the problem arises in regard to where to position or store theescape tool so that it will be easily retrievable after an accidentand/or the seatbelt latch becomes inoperable. Following an accident anescape tool clipped to the visor may have been dislodged and fallen outof the reach of the occupant with the inoperable latch mechanism. Or,the escape tool stored in any of several storage compartments in thevehicle may not be reachable by the restrained occupant to be retrievedand used to cut through the seatbelt. It is, therefore, an object of thepresent invention to position the seatbelt escape tool directly onto theseatbelt so as to not require retrieval and to be functional at alltimes.

The second crucial feature of a car escape tool is a glass breaker. Theglass breakers used in hand-held tools are essentially hammerheads madefrom steel that come to a point which can concentrate the force of yourswing. Used properly, a glass breaker will shatter a side window of avehicle. One should not even attempt breaking the windshield, as thisglass is treated specifically to avoid shattering. Cutting through theseatbelt webbing and shattering a side window will allow an occupant toexit the vehicle using the window should the door have been renderedinoperable as a result of an accident.

There are a number of combination seatbelt cutters and glass breakingtools available in the market today. But if the seatbelt escape tool isunable to be retrieved to enable the cutting of the seatbelt, thecombined glass breaker will also be unable to be retrieved and used aswell. It is also an object of the present invention to combine the glassbreaker tool with the seatbelt cutter that is to be positioned onto theseatbelt so that the combination escape tool is instantly usable withthe occupant not finding it necessary to locate the escape tool in orderto be able to use it to escape by cutting the seatbelt.

Other objects will appear hereinafter.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A combination cutter and glass break tool for an automotive vehicle isdescribed as being permanently positioned in any desired location onto avehicle safety restraint belt. The combination tool has a housingincluding first and second sections. The first or lower section has arecess dimensioned to permit a vehicle safety restraint system belt tobe positioned therein. The second or upper section is connected to thelower section at a rear portion of both the first and second sections bya flexible hinge. Both of the two sections are fixedly joinable togetherat their respective front portions to capture the safety belt betweenthe two sections and frictionally maintain the position of the tool onthe captured portion of the safety belt. The combined tool also isdescribed as having a position locking mechanism between the respectivefront portions of both the first and second sections of the combinationtool that retains the two sections in juxtaposed contact once engaged.

The second section houses a cutting implement and cutting guide forsevering the safety belt captured between the two sections. The cuttingguide is located within a guide track for maintaining the cutting guideand associated cutting implement in substantially perpendicularalignment to the captured safety belt. The guide track extends withinthe second or upper section from the rear to the front and has bothupwardly and downwardly opening slots. The downwardly opening slotpermits the forward sliding of the cutting implement and the upwardlyopening slot permits the attachment of the cutting guide to a handle foroperating the cutting implement attached to the cutting guide.

The handle is attached to the cutting guide by a second flexible hingelocated between the handle and the cutting guide that permits the handleto move from a stowed to an operational position. The handle ismaintained in the stowed position by a retaining means. The retainingmeans for maintaining the handle in the stowed position may be a matingprotrusion and dimple located on the inside surface of the handle andthe front surface of the second or upper section, respectively.Alternatively the retaining means for maintaining the handle in thestowed position may be an extension clip located at the distal end ofthe handle that overlies the front surface of the second or uppersection and extends slightly rearward along the bottom of the first orlower section of the combined tool.

The first or lower section also houses a glass break tool that can be ina stowed first position or a second deployed position. Each position isdependent upon the position of the glass break tool position lockingmeans. The glass break tool position locking means is described as anoutward spring force and rearward and forward locking positions with adepressible release button and connecting track for moving the glassbreak tool between the two locking positions, stowed and deployed.

A second embodiment of the combination cutter and glass break tool foran automotive vehicle is also described having a housing with of firstand second side sections, a bottom section and a handle section. Thefirst and second sections are capable of attaching to each othercreating a recess dimensioned to permit a vehicle safety restraintsystem belt be positioned between the bottom of the attached first andsecond sections and the bottom section and to frictionally maintain theposition of the combination tool at the point of capture of that portionof the safety belt.

The handle section is connected at a rear portion of both the first andsecond sections by a pin extending through the handle section andcaptured by both the first and second sections. The handle section isalso connected to the cutting guide by the same pin extending throughthe cutting guide with the pin permitting the handle section to movefrom a stowed to an operational position. The handle is maintained inits stowed position by a retaining means.

The first and second sections house in an elongated space createdbetween the attached first and second sections a cutting implement andcutting guide for severing the safety belt captured between the first,second and bottom sections. The cutting guide is located within aguiding track for maintaining the cutting guide and associated cuttingimplement in substantially perpendicular alignment to the capturedsafety belt. The guiding track extends within the elongated spacebetween the first and second sections from rear to front and having bothupwardly and downwardly opening slots. The downwardly opening slotpermits the forward sliding of the cutting implement and the upwardlyopening slot permits the attachment of the cutting guide to the handlesection for operating the cutting implement attached to the cuttingguide.

The cutting guide is capable of being stowed in a first position or in asecond deployed position as controlled by the handle section and alsohouses a glass break tool on its forward facing portion. The position ofthe glass break tool is dependent upon the position of the cuttingguide, with the glass break tool in its deployed position only followingthe severing of the safety belt by the cutting implement and with thehandle section overlying the first and second sections forming agripping position for the combination tool.

The retaining means for maintaining the handle section of thecombination cutter and glass break tool in the stowed position may bedescribed as a mating recess and bar located on the inside surface ofthe handle and inside the front of the attached first and secondsections, respectively. The combination tool also has a tamper indicatorin the form of a tab extending over the handle section from either thefirst or the second section that, when broken or missing, indicates thatthe combination tool may have been used.

The combination cutter and glass break tool additionally has a strapextending between the combination tool and a surface proximate to anaperture for guiding the extension and retraction of the safety belt ofthe vehicle. The strap is for maintaining the combination tool at alocation adjacent to the aperture for guiding the extension andretraction of the safety belt and out of reach of curious children.Thus, the combination cutter and glass break tool is readily availablefor use by being retained in position on the safety belt system of avehicle.

Based upon the description contained herein, the combination cutter andglass break tool will be readily available for use by the occupant ofthe vehicle as it will be retained in position on the safety belt systemof the vehicle until needed.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

For the purpose of illustrating the invention, there are shown in thedrawings forms which are presently preferred; it being understood,however, that the invention is not limited to the precise arrangementsand instrumentalities shown.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a vehicle occupant seated on a vehicleseat with the combined lap and shoulder harness belts deployed acrossthe occupant's body with the combined seatbelt cutter and glass breaktool of the present invention positioned onto the belt system in threepossible locations.

FIG. 2 is a side view of the combined seatbelt cutter and glass breaktool of the present invention positioned onto the seatbelt system in anyof the three possible locations.

FIG. 2A is a sectional view along Line A-A of FIG. 2 showing the guidetrack and cutting implement of the combined seatbelt cutter and glassbreak tool of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged view of an alternative latching mechanism forsecuring the combined seatbelt cutter and glass break tool of thepresent invention to the seatbelt system.

FIG. 4 is an alternative guide track and cutting implement for thecombined seatbelt cutter and glass break tool of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a partial cutaway side view of the combined seatbelt cutterand glass break tool of the present invention showing the glass breaktool in its stored position.

FIG. 5A is an enlarged view of the stored glass break tool of thecombined seatbelt cutter and glass break tool of the present invention.

FIG. 5B is an enlarged view of the deployed glass break tool of thecombined seatbelt cutter and glass break tool of the present invention.

FIG. 6A is a first alternative cutting edge shape for the cuttingimplement of the combined seatbelt cutter and glass break tool of thepresent invention.

FIG. 6B is a second alternative cutting edge shape for the cuttingimplement of the combined seatbelt cutter and glass break tool of thepresent invention.

FIG. 6C is a third alternative cutting edge shape for the cuttingimplement of the combined seatbelt cutter and glass break tool of thepresent invention.

FIG. 7 is an exploded view of a second embodiment of the combinedseatbelt cutter and glass break tool of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the second embodiment of the combinedseatbelt cutter and glass break tool of the present invention installedon a seatbelt.

FIG. 9 is a side view of the second embodiment of the combined seatbeltcutter and glass break tool of the present invention installed on aseatbelt with the right side of the upper portion of the tool removedfor ease of understanding of the internal structure of the combinedtool.

FIG. 9A is a side view of the second embodiment of the combined seatbeltcutter and glass break tool of the present invention with the glassbreak tool extended with the right side of the upper portion of the toolremoved for ease of understanding of the internal structure of thecombined tool.

FIG. 10 is a perspective view of the second embodiment of the combinedseatbelt cutter and glass break tool of the present invention installedon a seatbelt at the seatbelt guide above the shoulder of a seatbeltuser.

FIG. 10A is an enlargement of the circled section of FIG. 10 showing anenlargement of the strap attachment between the combination tool and avehicle surface.

FIG. 10B is a perspective view of the strap attachment between thecombination tool and a vehicle surface proximate to a slot through whichthe shoulder restraint of the seat belt becomes visible to a vehicleoccupant.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The following detailed description is of the best presently contemplatedmode of carrying out the invention. The description is not intended in alimiting sense, and is made solely for the purpose of illustrating thegeneral principles of the invention. The various features and advantagesof the present invention may be more readily understood with referenceto the following detailed description taken in conjunction with theaccompanying drawings.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, where like numerals refer tolike parts or elements, there is shown the combined seatbelt cutter andglass break tool 10 of the present invention. In FIG. 1 the seatbeltrestraint system 1 is shown restraining an occupant in a vehicle seatcomprised of a lap belt portion 2, a shoulder belt portion 3, a buckle4, and a latch mechanism 5. The lap belt portion 2 and shoulder beltportion 3 are configured as part of the same unitary safety beltrestraint system that passes through the buckle 4 between a securingpoint (not shown) clamping the lap belt portion 2 to the vehicle floorand a seatbelt tensioner (not shown) for retracting the shoulder beltportion 3 located in the vehicle sidewall usually above and adjacent toand slightly behind the vehicle seat.

The combined seatbelt cutter and glass break tool 10 may be located inany number of locations along the seat belt system 1. Three possiblelocations are shown in FIG. 1. The first location 10 a for the combinedseatbelt cutter and glass break tool 10 is proximate to the sleeve 6 forguiding the lap belt portion 2 to the floor clamp for securing that endof the seat belt system 1 to the floor of the vehicle outboard of theseat. A second location 10 b for the combined seatbelt cutter and glassbreak tool 10 is shown in dashed lines approximately midway across thelap belt portion 2 of the seat belt system 1. A third location 10 c forthe combined seatbelt cutter and glass break tool 10 is shown in dashedlines approximately midway along the length of the shoulder portion 3 ofthe seat belt system 1 that extends across the body of the occupantupwards from the buckle 4 and latch 5. Each of these possible locationsof the combined seatbelt cutter and glass break tool 10 is for bothcomfort and ease of use by the occupant in the event that the latch 5malfunctions and the web of the seat belt system 1 must be severed forthe occupant to exit the vehicle.

Referring now to FIG. 2, the combined seatbelt cutter and glass breaktool 10 is shown mounted onto and around the seat belt 1. This mountingis accomplished by placing the seat belt 1 between an upper portion 11and a lower portion 12 of the combined tool 10 that are separated by aflexible hinge 13 located at one end of the combined tool 10. At theother end of the combined tool 10 there is a snap lock mechanism 14 thatwill retain the two portions 11, 12 of the combined tool 10 togetheronce engaged. The snap lock mechanism 14 can be any device or apparatusthat can be engaged by inserting an extended piece located on oneportion 12 of the combined tool 10 into a cooperating opposing receiverlocated on the other portion 11 of the combined tool 10 to operativelyengage one with the other to retain the two portions 11, 12 in immediateadjacent proximity of one to the other. One example of such a snap lockmechanism is an appendage extending outward from the lower portion 12 ofthe combined tool 10 having a bulbous distal end for insertion into andengagement with a cooperating recess in the upper portion 11 of thecombined tool 10 having a shape that fully mates with the appendage andbulbous end for engaging with the entire length of the appendage so asto capture all of the appendage with its bulbous end within thecooperating recess and retain the entire appendage within the recessholding the two portions 11, 12 of the combined tool 10 together in asubstantially parallel alignment. This engaging of the appendage withinthe cooperating recess results in the seat belt 1 being surrounded andcaptured within the two portions 11, 12 of the combined tool 10. Thelower portion 12 has a recess 15 having a depth substantially the sameas the thickness of the seat belt 1 for capturing the seat belt 1between the bottom of the recess 15 and the inside surface of the upperportion 11. The closure of the two portions 11, 12 together createssufficient frictional contact of the combined tool 10 against the seatbelt 1 to maintain the combined tool 10 in the desired position alongthe belt 1.

Once engaged around the seat belt 1 the combined tool 10 is stillcapable of being positioned into a desired location along the belt 1.However, once the upper and lower portions 11, 12 of the combined tool10 are in engaged juxtaposition there is considerable friction betweenthe inside surfaces of the upper and lower portions 11, 12 of thecombined tool 10 and the seat belt 1. Although there is frictionalcontact, the combined tool 10 is still capable of being repositionedalong the portion of the seat belt 1 onto which it was placed such thatthe combined tool 10 can be located or relocated into a comfortableposition for use by the occupant as needed.

The upper portion 11 of the combined tool 10 houses the cuttingimplement 16 that is attached to a cutting guide 17. The cutting guide17, in turn, is attached to a handle 18 that can be best described ashaving three portions, a base portion, a gripping portion and a latchportion. The base portion of the handle 18 is attached to the cuttingguide 17 at one end and to a flexible hinge 19 at the other end. Theflexible hinge 19 joins together the base and gripping portions of thehandle 18 such that the gripping portion of the handle can be positionedat approximately a 90° position to the outer surface of the upperportion 11 of the combined tool 10. The handle 18 is retained in astowed position by a dimple 20 at the distal end of the latch portion ofthe handle 18 that is configured to overlie and engage with acooperating rounded protrusion or bump 21 located on the front of theupper portion 11 of the combined tool 10. The latch portion of thehandle 18 is positioned at a 90° angle to the gripping portion of thehandle 18 to overlap the top and partial front of the combined tool 10.Engagement of the protrusion 21 with the dimple 20 maintains the handle18 in the stowed position until pulled outward and upward for use incutting through the web of the seat belt 1 by the cutting implement 16.

An alternative engaging mechanism for the latching portion of the handle18 is shown in FIG. 3. The latching portion of the handle 18 is extendeddownward along the front of both the upper and the lower portions 11, 12of the combined tool 10 with an extended inward facing catch 20 a thatclips over the junction of the front and bottom faces of the lowerportion 12 of the combined tool 10. This engagement of the latch portionof the handle 18 also causes the handle 18 to be retained in the stowedposition until pulled outward and upward for use in cutting through theweb of the seat belt 1 by the cutting implement 16.

Also housed within the upper portion 11 of the combined tool 10 is thecutting implement 16. The cutting implement 16 is stored at the rear ofthe combined tool 10 within a recess that serves as a guide path 22 formoving the cutting implement 16 from the rear to the front of thecombined tool 10 along a predetermined pathway, which movement resultsin the cutting through of the web of the seat belt 1. The recess orguide path 22 extends from the rear to the front of the upper portion 11of the combined tool 10 and houses both the cutting guide 17 and theattached cutting implement 16 as is shown in FIGS. 2, 2A and 4. In eachof the various depictions of the cutting implement 16, the cutting edge23 is always housed within the guide path 22 of the combined tool 10 andremains completely unexposed to the exterior of the combined tool 10once engaged onto the seat belt 1.

The recess or guide path 22 may take on a number of differentconfigurations to allow the forward movement of the cutting implement16. One such configuration of the guide path 22 is depicted in FIG. 2A.In this configuration the guide path 22 has a round upper portion toaccommodate a spherical cutting guide 17 and a rectangular lower sectionto accommodate the thin cutting implement 16. The cutting guide 17 isconnected to the handle 18 through an elongated slot 24 position alongthe length of the upper portion 11 such that the handle 18 can bemanipulated to pull the cutting guide 17 and cutting implement 16through the web of the seat belt 1. Connecting the guide path 22 withthe recess 15 is an elongated slot 25 extending from the rear to thefront of the upper portion 11 of the combined tool 10. Extending throughthe elongated slot 25 is the attached cutting implement 16. There isalso a guide path extension 23 of the guide path 22 in the lower portion12 of the combined tool 10 that is used maintain the distal end of thecutting implement 16 in a straight orientation regardless of forcesexerted against the cutting implement 16 by the seat belt 1 or otherexternal forces. The guide path extension 23 is directly beneath,aligned with, and coextensive to the lower portion of the guide path 22.The dimensional tolerances or clearance distances between the walls ofthe guide path 22 and the exterior surfaces of the cutting guide 17 andcutting implement 16 are relatively small to allow for ease of movementand to also maintain the predetermined and desired pathway of thecutting implement 16 perpendicularly to the edge of and across the webof the seat belt 1. These small dimensional tolerances result in a moreaccurate cut across the belt along the shortest possible distance.

Another configuration of the guide path 22 is depicted in FIG. 4. Inthis alternative configuration the guide path 22 has a rectangular upperportion to accommodate a similar rectangular cutting guide 17. Thecutting guide 17 is connected to the handle 18 through an elongated slot24 position along the length of the upper portion 11 such that thehandle 18 can be manipulated to pull the cutting guide 17 and cuttingimplement 16 through the web of the seat belt 1. Immediately below therectangular upper portion is an open lower section to accommodate thecutting implement 16. Connecting the guide path 22 with the open lowersection is an elongated slot 25 extending from the rear to the front ofthe upper portion 11 of the combined tool 10. Extending through theelongated slot 25 is the attached cutting implement 16. There is also aguide path extension 23 of the guide path 22 in the lower portion 12 ofthe combined tool 10 that is similarly used maintain the cuttingimplement 16 in a straight orientation regardless of forces exertedagainst the cutting implement 16 by the seat belt 1 or other externalforces. The guide path extension 23 is directly beneath, aligned with,and coextensive to the elongated slot 25 of the guide path 22. Thedimensional tolerances or clearance distances between the walls of theguide path 22 and the exterior surfaces of the cutting guide 17 andcutting implement 16 are relatively small to allow for ease of movementand to also maintain the predetermined and desired pathway of thecutting implement 16 perpendicularly to the edge of and across the webof the seat belt 1. As above, these small dimensional tolerances resultin a more accurate cut across the belt along the shortest possibledistance.

When the handle 18 is removed from the stowed position by pulling thelatch portion outward and upward, the handle 18 is in position to movethe cutting implement 16 along the guide path 22 to cut through the webof the seat belt 1. With the handle 18 in the upright position, pullingforce can be applied against the cutting guide 17 so that theoccupant/user can pull the cutting guide 17 and attached cuttingimplement 16 away from the rear of the combined tool 10 along the guidepath 22 toward the front of the combined tool 10. The guide path 22 hasboth upper and lower slots 24, 25 extending the length of the upperportion 11 to enable the connection of the handle 18 to the cuttingguide 17 and the connection of the cutting guide 17 to the cuttingimplement 16. As the cutting implement 16 and cutting guide 17 traversethe guide path 22 and guide path extension 23, the web of the seat belt1 is cut through creating two segments of the seat belt restraint beltresulting, generally, in the lap belt portion 2 and shoulder beltportion 3 being severed apart and remaining on either side of thecombined tool 10. With the cutting and segmentation of the seat belt 1,the combined tool 10 can be disengaged from the seat belt remnants andutilized as a glass breaker tool.

Referring to FIGS. 6A, 6B and 6C, there are shown three different andalternative cutting implement 16 configurations. The first is a straightcutting edge as shown in FIG. 6A. The second is a curved cutting edge asshown in FIG. 6B. The third is a serrated cutting edge as shown in FIG.6C. Further, the cutting implement 16 can be made from any metal alloythat resists rusting and/or other deteriorating oxidation effects in themany environments in which automotive vehicles are used. Also, thecutting implement can be made from polycarbonate or ceramic materialshaving a finely honed cutting blade or edge with an increased tensile(mechanical) strength that exhibit resistance to heat, water absorptionand shrinkage.

The glass breaker tool 30 is housed within the lower portion 12 of thecombined tool 10. See, FIG. 5. The latch portion of the handle 18 coversthe retracted and/or stowed glass breaker tool 30 that can be exposedthrough the front of the lower portion 12 of the combined tool 10. Withreference to FIGS. 5A, 5B, the glass breaker tool is shown stowed inFIG. 5A and deployed in FIG. 5B. The glass breaker tool 30 is comprisedof an outer conical shape 32 atop a cylinder 33 attached to a shaft 34that extends inward into the lower portion 12 of the combined tool 10.The glass breaker tool 30 is housed within an aperture or recess 31 inthe lower portion 12 of the combined tool. The recess 31 extends inwardin a shape that has similar dimensions to that of the glass breaker tool30 to closely accommodate the shape of the glass breaker tool 30. Theposition of the glass breaker tool 30, stowed or deployed, is determinedby a positional release in the form of cylindrical button release 36that traverses a pathway between the stowed and deployed positions. Ineach of these positions, stowed and deployed, the button release 36 isurged outward into respective apertures on the outside of the lowerportion 12 of the combined tool 10 that are dimensioned to accommodatethe button release 36 in either the stowed or deployed positions. Thebutton release 36 is retained in the desired position by an outwardspring force exerted against the button release 36 pushing it into theround corresponding apertures on the exterior of the lower portion 12 ofthe combined tool 10 locking the glass breaker tool 30 into either thestowed or deployed position. When deployed, the glass breaker tool 30 ismaintained in a perpendicular orientation to the front of the combinedtool 10 by the cylinder 33 and the shaft 34 being retained within theshaped recess 31 such that any lateral motion is minimized. In this waythe deployed glass breaker tool 30 can be employed by grasping thecombined tool 10 and striking a window with the conical shaped portion32 in order to break the glass and escape from the vehicle.

Referring now to FIGS. 7-10 a second embodiment of the combined seatbeltcutter and glass break tool 110 is shown. FIG. 8 shows the combinedseatbelt cutter and glass break tool 110 mounted onto and around the lapportion 2 of the seat belt. This mounting is accomplished by placing theseat belt 1 between an upper portion 111 a, 111 b and a lower portion112 of the combined tool 110. The two parts of the upper portion 111 a,111 b are configured to fit together utilizing a plurality of pins andreceivers in juxtaposed positions in each part 111 a, 111 b so that thepins and receivers cooperate one with the juxtaposed other to bothposition and attach each part 111 a, 111 b to the other. The pins andreceivers are located at the front and rear of the parts 111 a, 111 band permit a snap-together action that retains the parts in a fixedposition for use. The bottom or lower portion 112 is hinged at the rearof the combined tool 110 using a pin 113 that creates a hinge point forthe upper portions 111 a, 111 b and the lower portion 112 of thecombined tool 110 to capture, in this instance, the lap portion of theseat belt 2. At the other end of the combined tool 110, distant from pin113, there is a snap lock mechanism 114 that will retain the twoportions 111, 112 of the combined tool 110 together once engaged. Thesnap lock mechanism 114 is shown as a tongue that is engaged into arecess 114 a that is engaged by inserting the extended tongue located onthe lower portion 112 of the combined tool 110 into a cooperatingopposing receiver or recess formed between the two parts of the upperportion 111 a, 111 b and located on the combined upper portion 111 ofthe combined tool 110 to operatively engage and retain the two portions111, 112 in immediate adjacent proximity of one to the other. Thisengagement of the snap lock mechanism holds the two portions 111, 112 ofthe combined tool 110 together in a substantially parallel alignment inboth horizontal and vertical directions. This engaging of the appendage114 within the cooperating recess 114 a results in the seat belt 1 beingsurrounded and captured within the two portions 111, 112 of the combinedtool 110.

As can be seen from FIG. 9, a recess 115 is provided between the upwardfacing side of the lower portion 112 of the combined tool 110 and theunderside of the upper portion 111 having a depth substantially the sameas the thickness of the seat belt 1 for capturing the seat belt 1 (inthis case the lap portion 2 of the seat belt 1) between the bottom ofthe recess 115, i.e., the top of the lower portion 112, and theunderside of the upper portion 111. The closure of the two portions 111,112 together creates sufficient frictional contact of the combined tool110 against the seat belt 1 to maintain the combined tool 110 in anydesired position along the entirety of belt 1.

Once engaged around the seat belt 1 the combined tool 110 is stillcapable of being positioned into any desired location along the belt 1.However, once the upper and lower portions 111, 112 of the combined tool110 are in engaged juxtaposition there is considerable friction betweenthe inside surfaces of the upper and lower portions 111, 112 of thecombined tool 110 and the seat belt 1. As above, although there isfrictional contact, the combined tool 110 is still capable of beingrepositioned along the portion of the seat belt 1 onto which it wasplaced such that the combined tool 110 can be located or relocated intoa comfortable position for use by the occupant as needed.

Attached to the upper portion 111 is handle 118 that is mounted betweenthe two parts 111 a, 111 b of the upper portion 111 by pin 119 which islocated at the rear of the combined tool 110. The pin 119 extendsthrough the rear of the handle 118 and through the cutting guide 117comprised of two parts, 117 a and 117 b. Between the two parts 117 a,117 b is housed the cutting implement 116 which is held in position by acombination of recess 116 a in part 117 b of cutting guide 117, and bypin 119 that also extends through the cutting implement 116. The recess116 a creates a space within which the cutting implement 116 isrestricted in any forward or rearward tilting and is sandwiched betweenparts 117 a and the recess 116 a in part 117 b such that any twistingmotion is substantially eliminated. Further, the passing of the pin 119through the cutting implement 116 and the cutting guide 117 creates afulcrum point for focusing force by the handle 118 on the cuttingimplement 116 and cutting guide 117. The cutting implement 116 can be ofany type as described above.

The cutting guide 117, as described above, is attached to the handle 118that can be best described as having three portions, a base portion, agripping portion and a latch portion. The base portion of the handle 118is attached to the cutting guide 117 at the rear end of the handle 118by pin 119. The gripping portion of the handle 118 such that thegripping portion of the handle can be positioned in line with thecombined tool 110 or at approximately a 90° position to the outersurface of the upper portion 111 of the combined tool 110 when use iscontemplated. The handle 118 is retained in a stowed position by acooperating rounded slot 121 located at the distal end of the latchportion of the handle 118 that is configured to overlie and engage witha retaining pin 120 located on the forward upper portion 111 a/111 b ofthe combined tool 110. The latch portion of the handle 118 is positionedat a 90° angle to the gripping portion of the handle 118 to overlap thetop and partial front of the combined tool 110. Engagement of therounded slot 121 with the retaining pin 120 maintains the handle 118 inthe stowed position until pulled outward and upward for use in cuttingthrough the web of the seat belt 1 by the cutting implement 116. Alsoused to retain the handle 118 in the stowed position is tamper indicator118 a that overlies the handle 118 extending outward from one part 111 bof the upper portion 111 of the combined tool 110 such that the handlecannot be operated unless the tamper indicator 118 a has been snappedoff by upward movement of the handle 118 from its stowed position to itsoperable position. Tamper indicator 118 a is shown in FIG. 7 and FIG. 9as a rectangular extension overlying a slight indentation in the handle118 that can be snapped off as the handle 118 is moved upward. If tamperindicator 118 a is missing or detached, the user should determinewhether the seat belt 1 has been compromised by a partial cutting actionand replace the combined tool 110 with an unused tool. If the seat belt1 has been compromised, the belt should also be promptly replaced.

Housed within the upper portion 111 of the combined tool 110 is thecutting implement 116 and cutting guide 117. The cutting implement 116and cutting guide 117 are stored at the rear of the combined tool 110within a recess that serves as a guide path for moving the cuttingimplement 116 within the cutting guide 117 from the rear to the front ofthe combined tool 110 along a predetermined pathway, which movementresults in the cutting through of the web of the seat belt 1. Thisrecess or guide path 122 extends from the rear to the front of the upperportion 111 of the combined tool 110 and is formed between each of theparts 111 a and 111 b. The guide path 122 is augmented by opposingpaired channels 122 a, 122 b that cooperate with outward shoulderextensions 117 c, 117 d of the cutting guide 117, which extensions areconfigured to slide within the channels 122 a, 122 b to carry thecutting guide 117 and the cutting implement 116 forward within thecombined cutting tool 110.

To increase the stability of the blade of the cutting implement 116, aslot 123 in the lower portion 112 guides and permits free forward travelof the cutting implement 116, which extends below the cutting guide 117and into the slot 123. The cutting guide 117 and the attached cuttingimplement 116 are shown in FIG. 9 in the stowed position at the rear ofthe combination tool 110. In the second embodiment of the combinationtool 110, the cutting implement 116 and its cutting edge are alwayshoused within the guide path 122 of the combined tool 110 and remaincompletely unexposed to the exterior of the combined tool 110 once thetool is engaged onto the seat belt 1.

The recess or guide path 122 comprises an open space between the opposedchannels 122 a, 122 b in the upper portion 112 to accommodate theoverall rectangular shape of the cutting guide 117 with an elongatedslot 125 extending from the rear to the front of the combined tool 110.The elongated slot 125 is created and extends between the lower supportwall or floor of each of the opposed channels 122 a, 122 b along thesides of the recess or guide path 122. See, FIG. 9.

The cutting guide 117 is connected to and manually controlled by thehandle 118 through the connection at pin 119 that extends through thecutting guide 117 and the cutting implement 116. The handle 118 can bemanipulated to pull the cutting guide 117 and cutting implement 116through the web of the seat belt 1 by moving the cutting guide 117 andcutting implement 116 from their rearward stowed position forward alongthe guide path 122. The seat belt 1, or the lap portion 2 of the belt 1,resides within the recess 115 between the upper and lower portions, 111a, 111 b and 112, of the combined tool 110. Connecting the guide path122 with the recess 115 is the elongated slot 125 that extends from therear to the front of the upper portion 111, between the two parts 111 aand 111 b, of the combined tool 110. Extending through the elongatedslot 125 is the attached cutting implement 116. There is also a guidepath extension 123 of the guide path 122 in the lower portion 112 of thecombined tool 110 that is used maintain the distal end of the cuttingimplement 116 in a straight orientation perpendicular to the plane ofthe web of the seat belt 1 regardless of forces exerted against thecutting implement 116 by the seat belt 1, or other external forces. Theguide path extension 123 is directly beneath, aligned with, andcoextensive to the elongated slot 125 of the guide path 122. Thedimensional tolerances or clearance distances between the walls ofopposed channels 122 a, 122 b of the guide path 122 and the exteriorsurfaces of the extensions 117 c, 117 d of the cutting guide 117, thespacing between the cutting guide 117 and the walls of the guide path inthe upper portion 111 of the combined tool 110, and the spacing betweenthe cutting implement 116 and the sides of the respective slots 123, 125are relatively small to allow for ease of movement, but to also maintainthe predetermined and desired pathway of the cutting implement 116perpendicularly to the edge of and across the web of the seat belt 1.These small dimensional tolerances result in a more accurate cut acrossthe belt along the shortest possible distance.

When the handle 118 is removed from its stowed position by pulling thelatch portion outward and upward and breaking off the tamper indicator118 a, the handle 118 is in position to move the cutting implement 116along the guide path 122 to cut through the web of the seat belt 1. Withthe handle 118 is in the upright position, pulling force can be appliedagainst the cutting guide 117 so that the occupant/user can pull thecutting guide 117 and attached cutting implement 116 away from the rearof the combined tool 110 along the guide path 122 toward the front ofthe combined tool 110. As the cutting implement 116 and cutting guide117 traverse the guide path 122, guide path extension 123, and elongatedslot 125, the web of the seat belt 1 is cut through creating twosegments of the seat belt restraint resulting, generally, in the lapbelt portion 2 and shoulder belt portion 3 being severed apart andremaining on either side of the combined tool 110. With the cutting andsegmentation of the seat belt 1, the combined tool 110 can be disengagedfrom the seat belt remnants and utilized as a glass breaker tool.

The glass breaker tool 130 is housed within the front portion of cuttingguide 117 of the combined tool 10. See, FIGS. 7 and 9A. The latchportion of the handle 118 covers an opening in the front of the combinedtool 110 between the front portion of the lower portion 112 and the pin120. With the handle 118 having been used to cut the belt 1, such thatthe handle is folded down over the upper portion 111 of the combinedtool 110 and the cutting guide 117 is positioned at the front of thecombined tool 110, the retracted and/or stowed glass breaker tool 130 isexposed through the front of the lower portion 112 of the combined tool110. The glass breaker tool 130 is shown in its stowed position in FIG.9 and its deployed position in FIG. 9A.

The glass breaker tool 130 is comprised of a forward conical shape 132atop a cylinder 133 and positioned within a cylindrical recess 134 thatextends inward into the lower portion of the cutting guide 117 of thecombined tool 110. The recess 134 extends inward into the cutting guide117 in a shape that has similar dimensions to that of the glass breakertool 130 to closely accommodate the inward cylindrical shape 133 of theglass breaker tool 130. The position of the glass breaker tool 130,stowed or deployed, is determined by the position of the handle 118. Thehandle 118 is shown in its stowed position in FIG. 9 along with thecutting guide 117 and glass break tool 130 also in the stowed positions.After cutting through the belt 1, the handle 118 is folded down over thecutting tool 110 to permit easier grasping of the combined tool 110 bythe user/vehicle occupant. FIG. 9A shows the handle 118 folded over thecombined tool 110 following the traversal of the guide path 122 by thecutting guide 117 and cutting implement 116 such that the glass breaktool 130 is extending out the front of the combined tool 110 in itsdeployed position.

In the second embodiment there is no need for either a button release orany outward spring force. The glass break tool 130 is held in itsdeployed position by the interconnection of the handle 118 and thecutting guide 117 housing the glass break tool 130 and by depressing thehandle 118 downward against the upper portion 111 of the combined tool110. When deployed, the glass breaker tool 130 is maintained in aperpendicular orientation to the front of the combined tool 110 by thecylindrical recess 134 housing the cylindrical portion 133 of the glassbreak tool 130 such that any lateral or up-down motion is minimized. Inthis way the deployed glass breaker tool 130 can be employed by graspingthe combined tool 110 and striking a window with the conical shapedportion 132 in order to break the glass and escape from the vehicle.

In the case of using the combined tool 10, 110 in a position onseatbelts 1 near or where a child can tamper with the device, thecombined tool 10, 110 can be positioned on the shoulder restraintportion 3 of the seat belt 1 as shown in FIG. 10. A Velcro® strap 140extending between the combined tool 10, 110 and any flat surface nearthe slot through which the seat belt 1 extends from either the side orroof of the vehicle. The Velcro® strap 140 may be secured through theaperture 15, 115 of the combined tool 10, 110, or be secured to the flatunderside of the combined tool 10, 110 at position 141 as shown in FIG.10A. The other end of the strap 140 is secured to a cooperating strip142 adhered to a flat surface 144 of the vehicle at a location proximateto the point about which the seat belt 1 extends and retracts. See,FIGS. 10, 10A. The strap 140 may also be secured to a flat surface ofthe vehicle proximate to a slot 145 through which the seat belt shoulderrestraint portion 3 becomes vehicle to an occupant (FIG. 10B). Themovement restraining strap 140 maintains the combined tool 10, 110 inclose proximity to the point about which the seat belt 1 extends andretracts while not prohibiting the use of the seat belt 1. Thisrestraining strap 140 maintains the combined tool 10, 110 at a locationaway from curious children while still being immediately available to anoccupant or first responder to cut through the seat belt 1.

In summary, in the event of an accident where the airbags and seat beltpretensioners have been deployed resulting in the tightening of the seatbelt 1, coupled with the failure of the latch 5 to release or be able tobe released by the occupant of a vehicle, the combined seat belt cutterand glass break tool 10, 110, having been prepositioned on a selectedportion of the seat belt 1, lap or shoulder portion, can be used to cutthrough the web of the seat belt 1. The cutting action is initiated byreleasing the handle 18, 118 of the combined tool 10, 110, grasping thehandle 18, 118 positioning it upright in a substantially perpendicularposition to the remainder of the combined tool 10, 110, and pulling thehandle 18, 118 forward along the guide path 22, 122 causing the cuttingimplement 16, 116 to cut through the web of the seat belt 1 at thelocation of the combined tool 10, 110. Once the seat belt 1 has been cutand the combined tool 10, 100 disengaged from the seat belt segments,the exposed glass break tool 30, 130 can be deployed and the combinedtool 10, 110 grasped and used to shatter a door window if the doors ofthe vehicle are unusable. In this way an occupant of a vehicle canescape promptly without the need to await first responders to extricatethe occupant from the vehicle.

The present invention may be embodied in other specific forms withoutdeparting from the spirit or essential attributes thereof and,accordingly, the described embodiments are to be considered in allrespects as being illustrative and not restrictive, with the scope ofthe invention being indicated by the appended claims, rather than theforegoing detailed description, as indicating the scope of the inventionas well as all modifications which may fall within a range ofequivalency which are also intended to be embraced therein.

The invention claimed is:
 1. A combination cutter and glass break toolfor an automotive vehicle comprising: a housing comprised of first andsecond side sections, a bottom section and a handle section, said firstand second sections capable of attaching to each other and having arecess dimensioned to permit a vehicle safety restraint system belt bepositioned between the bottom of the attached first and second sectionsand the bottom section and frictionally maintain the position of thetool on a captured portion of the safety belt; said handle sectionconnected at a rear portion of both the first and second sections by apin extending through the handle section and captured by both the firstand second sections and further connected to a cutting guide by said pinextending through the cutting guide, said pin permitting the handlesection to move from a stowed to an operational position, said handlesection being maintained in the stowed position by a retaining means;said first and second sections housing therebetween in an elongatedspace a cutting implement attached to said cutting guide for severingthe safety belt captured between the said sections, said cutting guidebeing located within a guiding track for maintaining the cutting guideand the attached cutting implement in substantially perpendicularalignment to said captured safety belt, said guiding track extendingwithin the elongated space between the first and second sections fromrear to front and having both upwardly and downwardly opening slots,said downwardly opening slot permitting a forward sliding of the cuttingimplement and the upwardly opening slot permitting the attachment of thecutting guide to said handle section for operating the cutting implementattached to the cutting guide; said cutting guide can be in a stowedfirst position or a second deployed position as controlled by saidhandle section and also housing a glass break tool on its forward facingportion with the position of the glass break tool dependent upon theposition of the cutting guide, with the glass break tool in its deployedposition only following the severing of the safety belt by the cuttingimplement and with the handle section overlying the first and secondsections forming a gripping position, whereby said combination cutterand glass break tool is readily available for use by being retained inposition on the safety restraint system of a vehicle.
 2. The combinationcutter and glass break tool of claim 1, wherein said retaining means formaintaining the handle section in the stowed position being a matingrecess and a bar located on an inside surface of the handle section andinside a forward portion of the attached first and second sections,respectively.
 3. The combination cutter and glass break tool of claim 1additionally comprising a strap extending between said combination tooland a flat surface of said vehicle proximate to a slot for guiding theextension and retraction of said safety belt for maintaining saidcombination tool at a location adjacent to said slot for guiding theextension and retraction of said safety belt.
 4. The combination cutterand glass break tool of claim 1 additionally comprising a tamperindicator in the form of a tab extending over the handle section fromeither the first or the second section that, when said tab is broken ormissing, indicates that the combination tool may have been used.